LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It was a popular destination for generations of sports and music fans. Now the old Cardinal Stadium is about to fall to the wrecking ball.

Literally seat by seat, the old stadium is coming down. It's difficult, even dangerous work.

"It's a dangerous job up there when you're that high. We're just trying to do it as safe as possible without hurting anybody," said Carl Durbin of Southend Services, the company hired to do the demolition.

But these workers say they're proud to be the ones to bring down this house one last time.

"I can always say that I took down old Cardinal Stadium," said Durbin.

Since 1957, it's been home to everything from U of L football to minor league baseball to big name concerts.

"We used to tailgate over here in the parking lot," said demolition worker Adam Barnes. He has fond memories of going to the stadium with his family.

"Its an awesome tradition. To be honored to be part of this and to be able to take it down is pretty awesome," he said.

The stadium fell into disrepair after U of L moved to nearby Papa Johns in 1998.

"We've got [Papa Johns] over there. We've got that beauty. And to come here and see where we came from, it's just really awesome to be a part of it as a Louisville fan," said Barnes.

The wrecking crew has come across at least one piece of memorabilia; an old baseball, likely from the days of the Louisville Redbirds.

"I'm not sure how old it is or who hit it, but it was a home run ball that was hit up in these stands, and no one ever found it until yesterday," said Durbin.

Durbin says there is a lot of interest from fans who want their own piece of history -- the stadium seats.

"We've been getting a lot of requests for people that want to buy them. We're going to try to accommodate that," said Durbin.

After the stands come down the Fair Board plans to someday build an amphitheater at the stadium site.

The demolition should be finished by the end of the year, but the memories will take much longer to fade.

"It's actually what made me become a Louisville fan to be honest," said Barnes.

This project does not include the home stands. That's a different contract which will likely go out sometime next year.